SALEM — He was bullied in high school, but anyone considering picking on Wakefield’s John Healey now had better think again.

“I was a kid who was overweight in (Spaulding) high school and was made fun of,” said the 22-year-old mixed martial artist, who will make his professional debut in the cage tonight in Combat Zone MMA’s “Steel Cage Fighters” at Rockingham Park in Salem. “I didn’t want that anymore so it inspired me to get into MMA. I was 265 pounds and in my first year of training, I dropped 100 pounds .I wanted to be fit and live a healthy lifestyle and that’s what I’m doing now.”

Healey represents Team Iron Jaw in Rochester and will bring his 4-3-0 record as an amateur into the cage against the 5-1-0 amateur record of Mike Burke from Laconia and Lakes Region Valley Tudo when each begins his pro career in the lightweight ranks at 155 pounds.

“I know he likes to guillotine (choke hold) people and throw in some strikes, but my game is different,” said Healey, who was captivated by MMA at age 12 after watching Chuck Liddell knock out Tito Ortiz in UFC 47. “I’m a boxer and a kick boxer. I’ve got great hands and a great ground game with my Jui-Jitsu, Muay Thai and wrestling. I’m a complete fighter.”

Kattar (13-2-0) is widely perceived to be just one more win away from advancing to the bigger stage and brighter lights of the UFC or Bellator MMA, which are the sport’s two largest promotions in the world. Kattar is riding a five-fight win streak and had notched six KO/TKOs, three submissions, and four decisions including three which were unanimous while dispensing with some extremely tough and accomplished opponents. Baino (5-5-0) won one of his fights by unanimous decision but none of his other adversaries have lasted through the second round.

The main and co-main events will be preceded by seven amateur matches. Doors for Combat Zone open at 6:30 p.m. and the first fight is scheduled for 8 p.m. Tickets, which may be purchased on the website www.combatzonemma.com or by calling 603-360-3846, are $40 for general admission, $50, $75, $90 and $120 for ringside seating. Parking is free.